Blu-ray Review: For All Mankind - Page 2

Video / Audio

As with any film that mines archival footage, you can expect a range of quality, from grainy and low frame rate to richly cinematic. But the attention to restoration that the filmmakers went to pays off handsomely. This is very impressive footage, and you couldn't ask for a cleaner transfer. Especially enjoyable is the detail you can now see on the surface of the moon, as the lunar rovers bound over a very rugged and dimpled surface. Even the more grainy scenes reveal a level of clarity easily missed with standard definition.

The audio track is more subdued, as it is mostly supported by narration from the astronauts, with a solid focus on the center channel. Brian Eno's floating, ethereal score is the sole element that expands the track outward, making nice use of the surround field and adding a richer depth to the otherworldly footage. The soundtrack is newly encoded with a pleasing DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track, and combined with the impressive video encoding makes for a technical home run.

Bonus Materials

For All Mankind has an enticing collection of supplemental material, beginning with "An Accidental Gift" (HD, 32:00) which serves as a behind-the-scenes of making the film, as well as the task of dealing with source material footage from the vast NASA archives. "On Camera" (HD, 20:35) features video excerpts from the interviews conducted for the film. Not only is it nice to be able to put faces and names with some of the voices, but this section is also exclusive content, so you're able to get some further insights and impressions from the astronauts. "Paintings From The Moon" (HD, 7:33) is a short profile on Alan Bean's post-astronaut career as a painter. Now specializing in art based on the moon, he has even incorporated some of his mission gear into the works. Additionally, there is a slide show of Bean's paintings (HD, 37:52) with commentary by the artist, featuring even more reflections on space travel.

"NASA Audio Highlights" is just that: a collection of transmissions from astronauts during the first ten years of the space program. Some of the most famous soundbites are included, and are played over a high-res shot of the moon. "3,2,1... Blast Off!" (HD, 2:35) shows brief liftoff footage from each of the five rocket boosters used during the Mercury, Gemini, Apollo and Skylab missions.

Article Author: David R Perry

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